07/04/2025
Shanghai Ruijin InterContinental：
Nestled within a tranquil 7-hectare garden estate in the heart of downtown Shanghai, this heritage property is a living testament to the city’s cosmopolitan legacy. Originally built in 1917 as the private residence of British tycoon Benjamin Morris (of the “Morris’s Estate”),its red-brick Renaissance-style villas and manicured lawns have witnessed over a century of history.
Designated as a “Shanghai Classified Historical Protected Building”, the estate served as a state guesthouse from 1956 onward, hosting pivotal diplomatic moments such as Premier Zhou Enlai‘s 1973 meeting with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Its ivy-clad walls and European architectural details—from Art Deco flourishes to neoclassical colonnades—coexist with traditional Chinese pavilions, creating an urban oasis where magnolia trees bloom alongside century-old camphor groves.
Now part of the InterContinental group, the property preserves its heritage through restored original features: vintage fireplaces, stained-glass windows, and the iconic Central Lawn where political leaders once strolled. Located minutes from Huaihai Road’s bustle yet worlds apart in serenity, it remains a rare sanctuary where Shanghai‘s past and present harmoniously converge.
